Replaceable fork tine wear tip

ABSTRACT

A replaceable wear tip mountable on the leading end of a fork tine or the like through an adapter welded to the tine. The adapter includes a forwardly projecting tongue portion which is received within a mating socket defined in the wear tip. The wear tip includes a pair of rearwardly projecting integral ears which lie along the opposed sides of the projecting adapter tongue and through which a pair of opposed knockout pins are engaged for a releasable locking of the tip to the adapter and hence to the tine.

113 is pivoted by pivot 122. The spacing between pivots 121 and 122 isidentical to that between pivots 112 and 114 and hence members 111 and113 are at all times parallel. Such arrangement insures that members 118are at all times vertical, and thus parallel to back 36 despite angularvariation of guide 1 11. I

At the forward end of guide 111 are depending arms 126 which receive theend of rod 127 of cylinder 128, the forward end of which is pivotallyconnected to pad 129 on back 36. Energization of cylinder 128 controlsthe vertical inclination of guide 111 and this in turn, as hereinafterexplained, controls the inclination of the moldboards 24. It will beunderstood that cylinder 128 is merely one of several means whereby thepitch of guide 1 11 may be controlled.

Subframe 117 contains a horizontally disposed fabricated member 131formed with a downwardly opening slideway 132 in which reciprocatesslidable crosshead 133. Crosshead 133 has outward projecting lugs 134 oneither side at its front. The rearward end of crosshead 133 is connectedto the rod 136 of horizontal cylinder 137 which is supported on subframe117. Energization of cylinder 137 causes movement of crosshead 133 inslideway 132.

Pivoted to subframe 117 is a first spreader link frame 141, said framereceiving vertical pivot axes 142 at the top and 143 at theb0tt0m,-respectively. It is important that link frame 141 as well aslink frame 146 which is pivoted thereto are at all times vertical. Frame146 is pivotally connected to frame 141 by vertical pivot shaft 147. Apin sleeve 148 surrounds pin 147 at the junction of link frames 141 and146. A connecting rod 149 is pivotally connected to lug 134 and also tosleeve 148.

Moldboard 24 approximately two-thirds rearward of its forward end isprovided with a plate 151. Pivoted to plate 151 by horizontal pivot 152is a bracket 153 having an overhanging lip 154 which is on the inside ofplate 151. The outer ends of link frame 146 are pivotally connected tocars 156 on bracket 153 by means of vertical pivot 157. Movement ofcrosshead 131 therefore causes inward and outward movement of moldboard24, the link frames 141, 146 pivoting around the axes 142-143, 147 and157 in a grasshopper linkage movement which is illustrated schematicallyin FIG. 4. In the solid line position of FIG. 4 the link frames 141 and146 are extended outwardly almost their entire extent of travel, whereasin dotted line position they are folded to a position where themoldboards 24 are parallel to guide 111 and of minimum width.

Auxiliary to the cylinder 137 on either side of the machine is acylinder 161 connected to a bracket extending rearward from members 118with its rod 162 connected to hinge sleeve 148. Cylinders 161 havecommon connections with cylinder 137 and assist the latter in foldinglink frame 146 and thus in moving the moldboards inward and outward.

Subframe 117 also is provided with a cab 166 elevated above guide 111and containing an operators seat 167 and a console 168 having aplurality of valve levers for energization of the various hydrauliccontrols which are installed on the machine. It is a feature of theconstruction that the cab 166 is always horizontal by reason of the factthat subframe 117 is likewise always horizontal. Further, the seat 167is elevated above the level of motor 31 and pump 32 so as to give theoperator an unobstructed view forwardly of the machine. However, themoldboards 24 are elevated at a steeper slope than the guide rod 111,and hence the seat 167 is generally below the level of the moldboardsduring normal operation of K the machine.

REAR WHEELS AND SPOILER BLADES On the rear end of each moldboard 24 arehinge brackets 201 receiving hinge pin 202. Also received by pin 202 isan upper arm 203 which extends inward and is connected to downwardbracket 204. The lower end of bracket 204 is connected to rod 206 ofcylinder 207, the forward end of which is pivotally connected to themoldboard. The lower end of bracket 204 receives shaft 208, the innerend of which is connected on pin 202. The forward end of wheel mountingplate 213 pivots on shaft 208. The rearward end of plate 213 carriesaxle 214 on which is mounted rear wheel 216. Cylinder 221 is pivoted atits forward end to a sleeve 222 on pin 202 which is fixed by brace 220to bracket 204 and the rod 223 of cylinder 221 is connected to therearward end of plate 213. Hence energization of cylinder 221 pivotsplate 213 relative to shaft 208 and thus raises and depresses the wheel216 relative to the moldboard 24.

Also on hinge pin 202 are hinge ears 231 connected to L- shaped bracket232. Spoiler blade 236 is pivoted to bracket 231 about pivot 237.Cylinder 238 is connected at one end to bracket 232 and its rod 239 isconnected to spoiler blade 236. Energization of cylinder 230 thus causesblade 236 to swing about pivot 237. About midway outward of spoilerblade 236 is a guide 241 which is vertically disposed in the horizontalposition of blade 236. The outer edge of L-shaped bracket 232 isreceived in guide 241. Hence as blade 236 pivots around pivot 237, it iskept in contact with bracket 232. Tie rod 242 is connected at its outerend by means of swivel joint 243 to the outer end of bracket 232 and atits inner end by means of swivel joint 244 to wheel mounting plate 213.Tie rod 242 performs two functions. In normal usage of the machine itprovides a brace supporting the blade 236 against the thrust imposedupon it. Its second function is in transportation. When the machine isbeing transported from one location to another, wheel 216 is depressedand rod 239 contracted. Tie rod 242 pulls blade 236 and wheel 216 inrelationship to each other so that the blade is automatically pivotedabove the level of wheel 216 and inward, as is best shown in solid linesin FIG. 14. Hence the blade 236 does not project outward beyond wheel216 and highway width of load requirements are observed.

As has previously been noted, it is desirable that wheel 216 be pointedin the same direction as wheels54 despite changes in position ofmoldboards 24. The body 246 of the hydraulic valve controlling cylinder207 is mounted for sliding in a longitudinal direction on slide 247fixed to blade 24. The conventional hydraulic valve spool 248 of valvebody 246 siides within said body. The forward end of spool 248 isconnected by universal joint 249 to rod 251 and the forward end of rod251 is connected to an ear 252 which pivots with frame 146. The rearwardend of spool 248 is connected by universal joint 253 to rearwardextending rod 254, the rearward end of which is connected by pivot 256to bracket 204. As the spool 248 is moved within body 246, dependingupon the positions of rods 251 and 254, energization of cylinder 207 islikewise controlled. The hydraulic connections between valve body 246and cylinder 207, as will readily be understood by one skilled in thehydraulic control art, are such as to center spool 248 within valve body247. Hence despite movement of mold board 24 relative to the axis 154,bracket 204 is swung about axis 202 to maintain shaft 208 and hence tomaintain axle 214 parallel to axle 53. The mounting of body 246 on slide247 accommodates the vertical component of the movement of themoldboard.

OPERATION In normal operation of the device, the operator seated on seat167 manipulates the hydraulic controls 168 which govern the variousdouble-acting hydraulic cylinders which are energized from pump 32driven by motor 31. One or more tractors pull the machine and cause itto move along the ditch. As the tractors advance, the operator actuatesthe controls for cylinders 67 to steer wheels 54 along the desiredcourse. As has been previously described, automatic means causes therear wheels 216 to be parallel to wheels 54. The operator also controlscylinder 46 to raise or lower lister 21 and all of the elements rearwardof said lister relative to wheels 54 and thus the depth of the ditch iscontrolled. When the lister 21 is at the f desired depth, cylinder 46 isreadjusted to maintain such PATENTED M1831 IQTI 3,601, 911

ana /0' L. Wood REPLACEAIBLE FORM THNE WEAR HP The invention hereingenerally relates to wear tips for fork tines and the like, and is moreparticularly concerned with a uniquely configured and mounted wear tipreleasably secured to a fork tine through an adapter rigidly affixed tothe tine.

The tips or leading ends of various types of material handlingequipment, and in particular log forks, are subject to excessive wearrequiring frequent repair or replacement, which in turn involvesconsiderable down time for the involved equipment. It is a primaryintention of the instant invention to provide a unique wear tip for suchequipment which is releasably mounted by appropriate quick releasemeans, such as knockout pins, whereby the replacement of the tipinvolves substantially no down time and can be effected in the field aseasily as in the shop.

Other advantages include the provision of a fork tip configured so as toprovide a better pickup angle for logs, and a tip profile contemplatedto reduce damage to material handled thereby, the actual wear on the tipmounting tines also being substantially reduced, thus in effectproviding a longer operative life therefor.

Basically, the objects of the instant invention are achieved through theprovision of a wear tip mounted on a fork tine through an adapterrigidly affixed to the forward end of the tine and projecting forwardlytherefrom. The tip includes a rearwardly opening socket bordered by apair of rearwardly projecting ears, the socket and ears receiving aforwardly projecting portion of the adapter therebetween and therein fora selective locking of the tip to the adapter by a pair of opposedkeeper pins extending into the opposite ends of a common bore. Theadapter and tip have inclined upper surfaces which follow theinclination or slope of the tine with the forward end portion of the topconverging at a sharper angle to the rounded forward edge. The upper andlower surfaces of the tip are provided with depressions therein for easeof movement of the tip beneath the particular material to be engaged.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a log fork tine with the replaceablewear tip of the instant invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 2-2 in FIG, 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the wear tip, adapter andmounting pins.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral isused to generally designate a conventional log fork tine. Thereplaceable wear tip of the instant invention is generally designated byreference numeral 12, while the adapter utilized in mounting the tip 12on the leading end portion of the tine ill is designated by referencenumeral 14.

The adapter 114 is permanently mounted on or affixed to the modifiedleading end of the tine it) so as to constitute a mounting means for thereplaceable wear tip 12. In order to accommodate the adapter 114, theleading end of the tine 10 provides a vertical face inwardly of whichextends a transversely elongated socket llti consisting of a wideforwardly directed rectangular mouth 18, the sides of which convergeinwardly from the peripheral edges of the tine 10 at the verticalleading end thereof. The converging sides of the mouth 18 terminate in aflat base 20 across which extends a further rectangular depression 22,thus providing in effect a stepped socket 16. The rear of the adapter Mis provided with a rearwardly extending projection which conforms to andis closely received within the socket 16. This projection, designated byreference numeral 24, includes a rearwardly extending truncated portion26 received within the socket mouth portion l8,

and a rearwardly projecting transversely elongated rectangular portion221i received within the socket depression 22. When the adapterprojection 24 is received within the socket lb and the adapter 14permanently affixed, as by welding, to the forward end of the tine ill),the opposed vertical sides 3d of the adapter 14 constitute substantiallycoplanar continuations of the opposed sides of the tine ill). By thesame token, the lower surface 32 of the adapter 14 constitutes ahorizontal continuation of the horizontal lower surface of the tine l0,while the slightly inclined upper surface 34 of the adapter 114constitutes a coplanar continuation of the inclined upper surface of thetine l0.

The forward portion of the adapter 114 constitutes a for wardlyprojecting transversely elongated locking tongue 36 inwardly offset fromthe four tine surface continuing faces 36, 32 and 34. The upper andlower surfaces 38 and 4b of the torn gue 36 converge forwardly, acrossthe full width thereof, along arcuate paths, terminating in a full widthrectangular forwardly extending projection 42. The opposed sides 44 ofthe locking tongue 36 are flat and vertical, extending rearwardly into acentrally located notch 46 defined within each side face 30 of theadapter 14. Transversely along the rear edge of each of the arcuateconverging portions 38 and 40 a pair of undercut shoulders 48 and 50 areprovided, such shoulders occurring between each of the surfaces and thecorresponding top or bottom face of the adapter 14. Each of theshoulders 48 and 50 is in turn slightly arcuate or forwardly convexalong the width of the adapter 14. i l

The wear tip 112 is provided with a transversely elongated rearwardlydirected socket 52 which is internally configured so as to closelyconform to and snugly receive the adapter tongue 36, the socket 52thereby including an enlarged mouth having upper and lower arcuatelyconverging surfaces ter minating in an inwardly extending generallyrectangular depression into which the tongue projection 42 seats. Theupper andlower rearwardly directed edge portions of the tip 12, aboveand below the socket 52, are transversely arcuate and beveled so as toclosely conform to and seat against the adapter shoulders 48 and 50. Inaddition, the rear of the tip 112 is provided with a pair of integralvertically orientated rearwardly directed ears 54 which are received andseated in the opposed side adapter notches 46, the inner faces of thecars 54 constituting coplanar continuations of the opposed vertical endwalls of the socket 52 for a flat engagement against the opposed endwalls 44 of the adapter tongue 36. When the replaceable wear tip 12 isfully seated on the adapter 14, the opposed vertical side faces 56thereof constitute continuations of the vertical sidewalls 30 of theadapter; In addition, the bottom face 58 of the tip l2 constitutes ahorizontal coplanar continuation of the bottom face 32 of the adapter14. This bottom surface 54*; of the tip 12 includes a concave relativelywide depression 60 therein for facilitating a movement of the tipbeneath the material to be elevated. by the fork carrying unit. Theupper surface of the tip 12 includes a rear portion '62 which iscoplanar with the upper surface 34 of the adapter 14 and follows theinclination thereof to approximately the front to rear center of the tip12. The forward portion 64 of the upper surface of the tip 12 slopesdownwardly at a greater inclination than that of the rear portion 62,terminating in a rounded or convex full width forward edge (vb on thetip i2. In this manner, there is a tendency for less damage to thematerial being handled during the pickup operation. By the same token,the angle of the forward portion 64 of the upper surface of the tip l2provides for a better pickup of logs or the like. The upper surface ofthe tip 12 is also provided with a transversely elongated depression 68therein, this depression occurring partially in each of the sections 62and 64. Noting FIG. 4 in particular, it will be appreciated that theopposed sides 70 of the depression are angled inwardly, providing anobtuse angle with the bottom wall or walls of the depression 6t} wherebyno sharp comers are formed which would tend to collect dirt. The upperdepression 68 facilitates a movement of the fork tine wear tip l2beneath the material to be elevated, providing a reduced area of contactand what amounts to spaced material supporting side edges.

The actual releasable locking of the wear tip 12 to the adapter 14, andhence the tine 10, is effected by means of a pair of elongated knockoutpins 72. The pins 72 are received through holes 74 in the opposed weartip ears 54 and into the opposite ends of an elongated bore 76 whichextends transversely through the adapter tongue 36 in general alignmentwith the opposed ear receiving notches 46. This bore 76 has the oppositeends thereof countersunk as at 78 so as to define a pair of seats forsplit lock rings 80 which are selectively engaged within ring grooves 82provided on the pins 72 for a releasable retention of the pins 72 in atip locking position as best seen in FIG. 3. The ring grooves 82 on thepin 72 are so orientated as to, when in locked engagement with the rings80, provide sufficient outer end portions on the pins 72 so as to extendcompletely through the corresponding ears 54 to the outer faces thereof,the major portion of each of the pins 72 projecting interiorly throughthe bore or passage 76. The forward end of each of the pins 72 isslightly conical in shape, tapering to a reduced extreme end for ease ofengagement of the pins 72 through the corresponding split lock rings 78.In actually mounting the wear tip 12, the rings 80 are positioned intheir corresponding seats 78, and the tip 12 slid on the adapter 14 withthe tip ears 54 confining the rings 80 and with the ear holes 74aligning with the tongue bore 76. Upon an alignment thereof, the pins 72are driven inwardly through the opposite sides of the adapter mountedtip 12 until the rings 80 lock within the ring receiving grooves 82 inthe pins 72. When so mounted, the tip 12 is fixedly secured to theadapter 14 with the multiple aligning bearing faces, including thesurfaces of the socket 52 and the tongue 36 received therein, theundercut shoulders 48 and 50 and the tip rear edge portions receivedthereagainst, and the notch received ears 54, providing for a highlystable tip which, while removable, is, when mounted, operable in themanner of an integral extension of the fork tine. Should it becomenecessary to remove the tip 12 for repair or replacement, all that isreou'ired is the inward driving of one of the pins 72 so as to engageand outwardly drive the second pin 72, utilizing a force sufficient soas to spring the lock rings 80 outwardly for enabling the passage offirst one pin 72 and then the other pin 72 therethrough. After a remoyalof the first pin 72, the second pin 72 can either be continuously drivenso as to follow the first pin, or it can be driven from the oppositeside thereof, an appropriate elongated driving rod being utilized.

' From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that a highly uniquereplaceable fork tine wear tip has been defined. This tip, when mountedthrough a uniquely constructed and configured adapter, constitutes ahighly rigid wear tip for the corresponding tine, in addition toincorporating the unique ability to be easily and quickly removed foreither repair or replacement through the utilization of a pair ofknockout pins capable of being quickly inserted and removed even underfield conditions. In this manner, as will be appreciated, the down timeof the log forks, or for that matter any other type of similar materialmoving equipment upon which the wear tips are utilized, is maintained ata minimum.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Replaceable wear tip construction for a fork tine or the likecomprising a wear tip and an adapter for mounting said tip on a forktine, said adapter including forward, rear, side, top and bottom faces,a forwardly projecting tongue transversely elongated along said forwardface, said tongue having a top, bottom and opposed sides inwardly offsetfrom the corresponding faces of the ada ter, said wear tip havingforward, rear, opposed side, top an bottom faces, a tongue receivingsocket extending inwardly through the rear face of the tip, a transversebore through the adapter tongue, a pair of transversely aligned holesthrough the opposed side faces of the tip alignable with the bore upon areception of the adapter tongue within the tip socket, and removable pinmeans received through said tip holes and said adapter tongue bore for areleasable locking of the tip to the adapter, said adapter includingnotches in the opposed side faces thereof constituting rearwardextensions of the opposed sides of the tongue, said notches beingvertically spaced from the upper and lower edges of each side face, saidtip including a pair of rearwardly projecting ears to the opposite sidesof the socket therein, said ears being receivable within the adapternotches, the opposed side faces of said tip being coplanar with the sidefaces of the adapter upon a reception of the tip ears within the adapternotches, the top and bottom of said tongue converging forwardly alongarcuate paths and terminate in a rectangular full width forwardlyextending projection, the socket in said tip having an internalconfiguration conforming to the external configuration ofthe tongue,said pin means comprising a pair of knockout pins insertable inwardlythrough the pair of tip holes and into the opposite ends of the alignedbore, and lock ring means seated at the opposite ends of the bore andretained therein by the tongue receiving tip for the releasable lockingof the pins therein.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein the forward face of the adapter,both above and below the tongue, defines a full width undercut shoulder,each shoulder being longitudinally convex, the rear face of the tip,both above and below the socket, defining a longitudinally concavebeveled edge mateable with the corresponding adapter shoulder.

3. The construction of claim 2 wherein the top face of the tip isinclined from the rear face to the front face, the inclination from therear face to approximatelymidpoint on the tip being less than theinclination from midpoint to the forward face, the forward face of saidtip constituting a rounded relatively narrow edge.

4. The construction of claim 3 wherein the rear face of the adapterincludes a rearwardly extending transversely elongated projection for alocked engagement within the forward end of a fork tine, saidprojectionbeing located in spaced relation to and between the top andbottom faces of said adapter.

5. Replaceable wear tip construction for a fork tine or the likecomprising a wear tip and an adapter for mounting said tip on a forktine, said adapter including forward, rear, side, top and bottom faces,a forwardly projecting tongue transversely elongated along said forwardface, said tongue having a top, bottom and opposed sides inwardly offsetfrom the corresponding faces of the adapter, said wear tip havingforward, rear, opposed side, tip and bottom faces, a tongue receivingsocket extending inwardly through the rear face of the tip, a transversebore through the adapter tongue, a pair of transversely aligned holesthrough the opposed side faces of the tip alignable with the bore upon areception of the adapter tongue within the tip socket, and removable pinmeans received through said tip holes and said adapter tongue bore for areleasable locking of the tip to the adapter, said adapter includingnotches in the opposed side faces thereof constituting rearwardextensions of the opposed sides of the tongue, said notches beingvertically spaced from the upper and lower edges of each side face, saidtip including a pair of rearwardly projecting ears to the opposite sidesof the socket therein, said ears being receivable within the adapternotches, the opposed side faces of said tip being coplanar with the sidefaces of the adapter upon a reception of the tip ears within the adapternotches, said pin means comprising a pair of knockout pins insertableinwardly through the pair of tip holes and into the opposite ends of thealigned bore, and lock ring means seated at the opposite ends of thebore and retained therein by the tongue receiving tip for the releasablelocking of the pins therein.

1. Replaceable wear tip construction for a fork tine or the likecomprising a wear tip and an adapter for mounting said tip on a forktine, said adapter including forward, rear, side, top and bottom faces,a forwardly projecting tongue transversely elongated along said forwardface, said tongue having a top, bottom and opposed sides inwardly offsetfrom the corresponding faces of the adapter, said wear tip havingforward, rear, opposed side, top and bottom faces, a tongue receivingsocket extending inwardly through the rear face of the tip, a transversebore through the adapter tongue, a pair of transversely aligned holesthrough the opposed side faces of the tip alignable with the bore upon areception of the adapter tongue within the tip socket, and removable pinmeans received through said tip holes and said adapter tongue bore for areleasable locking of the tip to the adapter, said adapter includingnotches in the opposed side faces thereof constituting rearwardextensions of the opposed sides of the tongue, said notches beingvertically spaced from the upper and lower edges of each side face, saidtip including a pair of rearwardly projecting ears to the opposite sidesof the socket therein, said ears being receivable within the adapternotches, the opposed side faces of said tip being coplanar with the sidefaces of the adapter upon a reception of the tip ears within the adapternotches, the top and bottom of said tongue converging forwardly alongarcuate paths and terminate in a rectangular full width forwardlyextending projection, the socket in said tip having an internalconfiguration conforming to the external configuration of the tongue,said pin means comprising a pair of knockout pins insertable inwardlythrough the pair of tip holes and into the opposite ends of the alignedbore, and lock ring means seated at the opposite ends of the bore andretained therein by the tongue receiving tip for the releasable lockingof the pins therein.
 2. The construction of claim 1 wherein the forwardface of the adapter, both above and below the tongue, defines a fullwidth undercut shoulder, each shoulder being longitudinally convex, therear face of the tip, both above and below the socket, defining alongitudinally concave beveled edge mateable with the correspondingadapter shoulder.
 3. The construction of claim 2 wherein the top faCe ofthe tip is inclined from the rear face to the front face, theinclination from the rear face to approximately midpoint on the tipbeing less than the inclination from midpoint to the forward face, theforward face of said tip constituting a rounded relatively narrow edge.4. The construction of claim 3 wherein the rear face of the adapterincludes a rearwardly extending transversely elongated projection for alocked engagement within the forward end of a fork tine, said projectionbeing located in spaced relation to and between the top and bottom facesof said adapter.
 5. Replaceable wear tip construction for a fork tine orthe like comprising a wear tip and an adapter for mounting said tip on afork tine, said adapter including forward, rear, side, top and bottomfaces, a forwardly projecting tongue transversely elongated along saidforward face, said tongue having a top, bottom and opposed sidesinwardly offset from the corresponding faces of the adapter, said weartip having forward, rear, opposed side, tip and bottom faces, a tonguereceiving socket extending inwardly through the rear face of the tip, atransverse bore through the adapter tongue, a pair of transverselyaligned holes through the opposed side faces of the tip alignable withthe bore upon a reception of the adapter tongue within the tip socket,and removable pin means received through said tip holes and said adaptertongue bore for a releasable locking of the tip to the adapter, saidadapter including notches in the opposed side faces thereof constitutingrearward extensions of the opposed sides of the tongue, said notchesbeing vertically spaced from the upper and lower edges of each sideface, said tip including a pair of rearwardly projecting ears to theopposite sides of the socket therein, said ears being receivable withinthe adapter notches, the opposed side faces of said tip being coplanarwith the side faces of the adapter upon a reception of the tip earswithin the adapter notches, said pin means comprising a pair of knockoutpins insertable inwardly through the pair of tip holes and into theopposite ends of the aligned bore, and lock ring means seated at theopposite ends of the bore and retained therein by the tongue receivingtip for the releasable locking of the pins therein.